Apparatus, method and computer program product for filtering media files

Abstract

An apparatus, method and computer program product are provided for filtering media files for inclusion in a user's profile. A user may define rules to prevent certain media files from being included in his/her profile and, if desired, to redirect the media files to another individual's profile. The recommendation service, itself, may further generate rules to be used to filter the media files. When a media file that meets one of the rules defined by the user, or automatically by the service, is consumed in association with the user's account, a reference associated with the media file may, depending upon the requirements of the rule, be placed into a temporary folder, from which the user may delete the reference or redirect it to his or her own, or another's, profile.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor configured to:   receive information identifying a media file consumed;
 determine whether a reference to the media file should be included in a profile associated with a user, wherein the profile is usable to generate a recommendation of another media file for the user; and 
 include the reference to the media file in the user's profile if it is determined that the reference should be included. 
   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein in order to receive information identifying a media file consumed, the processor is further configured to receive information identifying a media file consumed via an electronic device associated with the user. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein in order to receive information identifying a media file consumed via the electronic device, the processor is further configured to receive information identifying a media file downloaded, purchased, or output via the electronic device. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein in order to determine whether a reference to the media file should be included in a profile associated with the user, the processor is further configured to:
 compare the media file to one or more rules associated with the user.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive at least one of the one or more rules as an input from the user.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 automatically generate at least one of the one or more rules associated with the user.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein one or more parameters are associated with the media file, and wherein respective rules define a value of at least one of the one or more parameters and an action to be taken with respect to the media file if a value of the at least one parameter associated with the media file is substantially the same as the value defined by the rule. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein in order to compare the media file to one or more rules associated with the user, the processor is further configured to determine whether the value of the at least one parameter of the media file is substantially the same as the value defined by the rule, said processor further configured to:
 take the action defined by the rule if it is determined that the value of the at least one parameter associated with the media file is substantially the same as the value defined by the rule.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the action is selected from a group consisting of deleting the reference to the media file; including the reference to the media file in a temporary folder associated with the user, instead of the user's profile; and including the reference to the media file in a temporary folder associated with a party other than the user, instead of the user's profile. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 generate a recommendation of a media file based at least in part on one or more media files, references to which are included in the temporary folder associated with the user;   receive an indication of a ranking associated with the recommendation; and   automatically generate at least one of the one or more rules associated with the user based at least in part on the received indication of a ranking.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive an indication of whether to accept or decline a media file, reference to which is included in the temporary folder associated with the user; and   automatically generate at least one of the one or more rules associated with the user based at least in part on the received indication of whether to accept or decline the media file.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein in order to determine whether a reference to the media file should be included in a profile associated with the user, the processor is further configured to:
 identify one or more preferences associated with the user based at least in part on one or more media files, references to which are included in the user's profile; and   compare the media file to the one or more preferences.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein in order to receive information identifying a media file consumed, the processor is further configured to receive information identifying a media file consumed via an electronic device not associated with the user, said processor further configured to:
 receive a user identification associated with the user, wherein the processor determines that the reference to the media file should be included in the user's profile in response to receiving the user's identification.   
   
   
       14 . A method comprising:
 receiving information identifying a media file consumed;   determining whether a reference to the media file should be included in a profile associated with a user, wherein the profile is usable to generate a recommendation of another media file for the user; and   including the reference to the media file in the user's profile if it is determined that the reference should be included.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein receiving information identifying a media file consumed further comprises:
 receiving information identifying a media file downloaded, purchased, or output via an electronic device associated with the user.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein one or more parameters are associated with the media file, and wherein determining whether a reference to the media file should be included in a profile associated with the user further comprises:
 comparing the media file to one or more rules associated with the user, respective rules defining a value of at least one of the one or more parameters associated with the media file and an action to be taken with respect to the media file if a value of the at least one parameter associated with the media file is substantially the same as the value defined by the rule.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 receiving at least one of the one or more rules as an input from the user.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 automatically generating at least one of the one or more rules associated with the user.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein determining whether a reference to the media file should be included in a profile associated with the user further comprises:
 identifying one or more preferences associated with the user based at least in part on one or more media files, references to which are included in the user's profile; and   comparing the media file to the one or more preferences.   
   
   
       20 . A computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions store therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
 a first executable portion for receiving information identifying a media file consumed;   a second executable portion for determining whether a reference to the media file should be included in a profile associated with a user, wherein the profile is usable to generate a recommendation of another media file for the user; and   a third executable portion for including the reference to the media file in the user's profile if it is determined that the reference should be included.   
   
   
       21 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein one or more parameters are associated with the media file, and wherein the second executable portion is configured to:
 compare the media file to one or more rules associated with the user, respective rules defining a value of at least one of the one or more parameters and an action to be taken with respect to the media file if a value of the at least one parameter associated with the media file is substantially the same as the value defined by the rule.   
   
   
       22 . The computer program product of  claim 21 , wherein the computer-readable program code portions further comprise:
 a fourth executable portion for receiving at least one of the one or more rules as an input from the user.   
   
   
       23 . The computer program product of  claim 21 , wherein the computer-readable program code portions further comprise:
 a fourth executable portion for automatically generating at least one of the one or more rules associated with the user.   
   
   
       24 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein the second executable portion is configured to:
 identify one or more preferences associated with the user based at least in part on one or more media files, references to which are included in the user's profile; and   compare the media file to the one or more preferences.   
   
   
       25 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for receiving information identifying a media file consumed;   means for determining whether a reference to the media file should be included in a profile associated with a user, wherein the profile is usable to generate a recommendation of another media file for the user; and   means for including the reference to the media file in the user's profile if it is determined that the reference should be included.   
   
   
       26 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 receive a definition of a rule for filtering one or more media files for inclusion in a profile associated with a user; 
 transmit the definition of the rule; and 
 transmit information identifying a media file consumed via the apparatus, wherein the media file is compared to the rule in order to determine whether the consumed media file should be included in the user's profile. 
   
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive a recommendation of a media file; and   transmit a ranking associated with the recommendation, wherein the ranking is usable to generate another rule for filtering one or more media files for inclusion in the user's profile.   
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein respective one or more media files have one or more parameters associated therewith, and wherein the rule defines a value of at least one of the one or more parameters and an action to be taken with respect to the consumed media file if a value of the at least one parameter associated with the consumed media file is substantially the same as the value defined by the rule. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the action defined by the rule comprises including a reference to the media file in a temporary folder associated with the user, said processor further configured to:
 access the temporary folder;   determine whether to accept or decline respective media files, references to which are included in the temporary folder; and   transmit the determination, wherein the determination is usable to generate another rule for filtering one or more media files for inclusion in the user's profile.